Intelligent reamer for rotary/sliding drilling system and method

Abstract

A downhole intelligent reamer controller detects the difference between rotary drilling and sliding drilling, responds appropriately and quickly to multiple changes between rotary drilling and sliding drilling that may occur several times each stand of pipe. Additional controls prevent deployment of reamer members at inappropriate times such as when drilling out cement, testing, and running in and out of the wellbore. In one embodiment, a separate modular control sub is disclosed that may be utilized with and/or removably secured to an expandable reamer and/or other types of downhole tools.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An electronic extendable member apparatus for a downhole drilling assembly, comprising:
 a tool body connectable to said downhole drilling assembly; 
 one or more members mounted to said tool body that are movable between an extended position away from said tool body and a retracted position; 
 an electronic control unit mounted in said downhole drilling assembly programmed for moving said one or more members between said extended position and said retracted position a plurality of times; and 
 a sensor mounted in said downhole drilling assembly to detect rotation, said electronic control unit being programmed for evaluating a signal from said sensor to distinguish between rotating drilling and sliding drilling, said electronic control unit being programmed to move said one or more members to said extended position during said rotating drilling and to move said one or more members to said retracted position during said sliding drilling. 
 
     
     
       2. The electronic extendable member apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising that said electronic control unit is programmed to be selectively controllable with a surface control to change between a first mode and a second mode a plurality of times, whereby in said first mode said electronic control unit is programmed for utilizing said signal for distinguishing between said rotating drilling and said sliding drilling without requiring use of said surface control and whereby in said second mode said electronic control unit maintains said one or more members in said retracted position regardless of said rotating drilling or said sliding drilling. 
     
     
       3. The electronic extendable member apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said electronic control unit is mounted within at least one of said tool body or an electronic control housing. 
     
     
       4. The electronic extendable member apparatus for a downhole drilling assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said tool body comprises a threaded connection connectable to at least one of a multiple diameter casing cutter, an extendable stabilizer, a drilling circulating sub operable to bypass lost circulation material to an annulus of a borehole, or a sidewall coring tool, said electronic control unit being programmable to control operation of at least one of said multiple diameter casing cutter, said extendable stabilizer, said drilling circulating sub or said sidewall coring tool. 
     
     
       5. A method for making or using an electronic member apparatus, said electronic member apparatus being connectable to a downhole drilling assembly for use downhole, said method comprising:
 providing a tool body connectable to said downhole drilling assembly; 
 mounting one or more members to said tool body that are movable between an extended position away from said tool body and a retracted position; 
 providing an electronic control unit in said downhole drilling assembly, programming said electronic control unit for moving said one or more members between said extended position and said retracted position a plurality of times; and 
 providing a sensor in said downhole drilling assembly to detect rotation, programming said electronic control unit for evaluating a signal from said sensor to distinguish between rotating drilling and sliding drilling, programming said electronic control unit to move said one or more members to said extended position during said rotating drilling and to move said one or more members to said retracted position during said sliding drilling. 
 
     
     
       6. The method for making or using an electronic member apparatus of  claim 5 , further comprising programming said electronic control unit to be selectively controllable with a surface control to change between a first mode and a second mode a plurality of times, programming said electronic control unit in said first mode for utilizing said signal for distinguishing between said rotating drilling and said sliding drilling without requiring use of said surface control and programming said electronic control unit in said second mode maintains said one or more members in said retracted position regardless of said rotating drilling or said sliding drilling. 
     
     
       7. The method for making or using an electronic member apparatus of  claim 5 , further providing mounting said electronic control unit within at least one of said tool body or an electronic control housing.